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The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing spear fisherman off the coast of Honaunau Beach Park, on the Big Island, pending any new developments, at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

The Coast Guard assisted the Hawaii County Fire Department in the search for 41 year-old Jeremiah Nathan. Crews covered an area approximately 900 square miles off the west coast of the Big Island during the search.

Nathan was reportedly last seen walking on Honaunau Beach with diving gear, wearing a blue-green camouflage full body wet suit at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“The decision to suspend a search is one of the hardest we have to make,” said Cmdr. Shannon Gilreath, Sector Honolulu’s acting commander. “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Nathan during this difficult time”.

Hawaii County Fire Department crews are scheduled to continue the search.

Coast Guard officials were notified of the potential distress by a friend of Nathan’s at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday. After receiving a call indicating that Nathan had not arrived in California as expected, the friend traveled to Honaunau Bay where he found Nathan’s truck parked and unlocked with personal items still inside.

Anyone with information on Nathan’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600 or the Hawaii County Fire Department dispatch at 808-961-8336.

For more information contact the Sector Honolulu public affairs officer, Lt. Kevin Cooper, at 808-286-4675.